When he’s not helping customers with their projects, he’s turning trash into treasure! Mike is an associate and upcycler from our North Tonawanda, NY location. Watch him talk about his love for upcycling in the video below:

Upcyclers everywhere are doing their part for Planet Earth by reducing their trash footprint.

Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming useless or unwanted materials into something new! Some people do it for fun, some do it for the environment, and some, like Mike, do it for both. Worldwide, we create 246 million tons of waste each year. 99% of the things we buy are discarded within the first six months. That’s the bad news. The good news is that you can help! How? Well, a great start is to stop making as much waste.

Most things that are thrown out can be easily fixed! The things that can’t can berepurposed.

That dingy old chair might just need a new coat of stain, or that broken table leg could look brand new with some glue. And when something does break, it’s a great chance to be creative and think about what else it could become. At his own store, Mike is always on the lookout for his next project idea. He took these Minwax sample cards that were going to be thrown out and transformed them into a colorful coat rack!

“Well, I get inspired mostly by what people throw out. You just learn stuff, and it’s fun! It’s all about fun.” – Mike K

Now it’s your turn!

Anyone can upcycle, and the only thing stopping you is your imagination. Click here for more project ideas. If you need any supplies or advice, come on in to your local Valu Home Centers and we’ll get you on the path to becoming a pro!